How to get rid of fleas in your bed

Content updated: May 18th, 2026

Key takeaways

• To effectively eliminate fleas from your bed, wash all bedding in water at least 130°F and dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes.
• Thorough vacuuming of carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture is essential to remove fleas and their eggs from your home.
• Consider steam cleaning your mattress and other areas to kill fleas, eggs, and larvae with high heat.
• Reinforcement through regular cleaning and preventive measures, such as pet grooming and flea treatments, is crucial to prevent fleas from returning.

Jump to section:

Why are there fleas in my bed?

I woke up with a bite: Do I have fleas in my bed?

Step-by-step mattress sanitizing after finding fleas

Can I use a steam cleaner on my mattress to kill fleas?

Why fleas can come back

Treating fleas can be difficult, especially if they’ve made their way into your bed. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. It takes time and an effective flea treatment for beds to properly rid your home of these jumping, biting insects. Learn how to handle fleas in the bed and when it's time to call in the experts at Terminix for flea control.

Why are there fleas in my bed?

If you have pets and they spend time on your bedding, they are probably the likely culprits. While fleas typically prefer to go after cats, dogs, and other furred-or-feathered animals, they will bite people if the host animal is not nearby. Additionally, if family pets have a habit of hanging out on beds or furniture, they are likely to leave fleas in the bed.

I woke up with a bite: Do I have fleas in my bed?

Flea bites are often confused with bed bug bites, as both insects leave small, red welts behind. However, there are ways to determine if you have fleas or bed bugs. One of the simplest detection methods is to watch your pets: if they are also scratching themselves more than normal, it’s likely fleas. These pests can be hard to detect, often hiding in places like pet bedding, carpets, and blankets. If you suspect fleas are in your bed, here are some signs to watch out for. 

• Visible fleas on your pets or in your bedding. 

• Small, reddish-brown fleas on surfaces. 

• Flea dirt (tiny black specks) on your pet or in your bedding. 

• Increased scratching, licking, or biting by your pets. 

• Red, itchy welts on your skin, particularly in clusters or in areas exposed while you sleep.

Step-by-step mattress sanitizing after finding fleas

If you have fleas in bed, removing them is a multi-step process. Fleas can live on bed sheets and mattresses for several days to a couple of weeks, even without a host. If left unchecked, fleas can reproduce and spread throughout your home. They can also bite humans, making it unsafe to sleep with them in your bed.

Wash bedding

To effectively kill flea eggs and larvae, we recommend washing bedding in water that's at least 130°F. This temperature is high enough to eliminate these pests at every stage of their life cycle. Follow the wash by drying the items on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes to ensure that any remaining flea eggs or larvae are thoroughly eradicated.

Vacuum the entire area

To get rid of fleas in bed, vacuum all carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture, focusing heavily on baseboards, under furniture, and dark corners where larvae crawl to avoid light. Vacuum any pet bedding, since these areas often harbor fleas due to close contact with pets. Make sure to dispose of vacuumed contents outside of your home.

Treat the infested area

Effective flea treatments for beds can include DIY methods such as vinegar or essential oil mixtures, or insect growth regulators like methoprene or pyriproxyfen. It's important to focus these treatments on "hot spots” like carpets and pet bedding areas for the best results. While DIY options can be effective for minor infestations, they do not always provide a long-term solution. In most cases, it's best to seek the help of a professional like Terminix to get rid of fleas in bed. Remember to also treat pets per your vet’s recommendation, as they can carry fleas and reintroduce them to your home.

Can I use a steam cleaner on my mattress to kill fleas?

Using a steam cleaner on your mattress can be an effective way to kill fleas and sanitize infected areas. The high temperatures produced by the steam can eliminate not only fleas but also their eggs and larvae. Steam cleaning can also be applied to other places, such as dog beds, carpets, and upholstery, making it an effective flea treatment for beds.

Why fleas can come back

Fleas reproduce rapidly, and even after initial cleaning efforts, you may continue to see fleas emerge as they hatch from eggs and pupae that weren't eliminated. To effectively break this cycle, it's important to vacuum and clean frequently, ideally every few days for at least three weeks following treatment. Implementing preventive measures such as regular pet grooming, using flea treatments, and maintaining a clean environment can significantly reduce the likelihood of reinfestation.